TV Brings Scares Home

Netflix shows subscribers how horror once looked on television.

The 1970s thriller “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” can be seen on the streaming channel in all its lo-fi glory. Yes, the Darren McGavin vehicle had its moments. It’s still punishing to endure the show’s archaic effects and oh, so tiny budget.

Television programming was different then. Now, the line between movies and television isn’t just blurred. It’s often impossible to tell the difference.

Here’s a hint: TV shows offer richer characters and less reliance on special effects. That’s even true for horror fare. It’s not just “The Walking Dead,” AMC’s highly rated zombie romp. Other fright-minded shows ladle on more than gore. They offer intricate heroes, evolving story lines and production values that trump “Kolchak,” indie horror movies and even those ‘80s slasher films.

So which shows offer what for viewers? Consider this as your de-facto guide through the televised chills lurking across the dial and streaming gadget.

‘American Horror Story’
TV mainstay Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “Nip/Tuck”) powers this shock FX anthology series, which showcases talented stars like Jessica Lange in revolving roles. It’s a crush of horror tropes all wrapped into one grisly package, one that takes full advantage of cable’s looser content standards.

‘The Walking Dead’
The granddaddy of horror shows, period. It’s not the longest running, but it’s the ratings giant that all other shows must be measured against. That’s partly due to the show’s compelling setup, pitting man’s ability to survive against our greed and other frightening flaws. More often than not it’s the humans we should fear here, not the shuffling undead.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’
The only question behind the new series, set in Los Angeles prior to the events of the original “Dead,” is what took AMC so long to spin-off its biggest brand? The series bows Aug. 23 and has Robert Kirkman’s fingerprints all over it. He’s part of the creative team behind “TWD” as well as the author of the source material – “The Walking Dead” comic book series.

‘Scream’
Four movies weren’t enough, apparently, for the minds at MTV. The new series tries to bring fresh life to a franchise that could sorely use some. The fourth installment proved a critical and commercial disappointment. Are horror junkies burned out on the franchise’s meta-horror antics? Apparently not, given the 6 million combined viewers who caught the show’s premiere episode earlier this month. The show became an instant hint with millennials, too, drawing more than 3 million of them to its debut.

‘Z Nation’
The “other” zombie drama on TV generates far less ink than “TWD.” It’s still strong enough to merit a second season from Syfy. It also offers a slightly campier tone for those who think the AMC drama needs to loosen up.

‘The Whispers’
It’s clear the horror genre loves children, but not in any healthy way. Kids are critical to most recent horror yarns, from “The Babadook” to “Poltergeist” (then and now). The gimmick in this new ABC thriller is that a group of children are connecting with their imaginary friends — only these friends may be too real, and creepy, for comfort. Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET, although a second season remains in doubt.

‘Hannibal’
The 2007 movie “Hannibal Rising” tried illustrating the early years of fiction’s most notorious cannibal. It flopped, and for good reason. NBC took a second stab at the character’s back story with far more impressive results. It’s endlessly bloody, but Mads Mikkelsen is terrific as the smart, singular terror. The show recently got the ax, but new episodes are airing at 10 p.m. ET Saturdays, and it’s possible another network or service will pick it up for a fourth season.

TV shows offer richer characters and less reliance on special effects.

‘Penny Dreadful’
The Showtime series, which just wrapped its second season, plays with horror legends amidst the usual bloodletting. The London-based saga looks into the origins of classic literary figures like Victor Frankenstein and Dorian Gray, playfully adding them into this 19th century stew. Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET.

‘Supernatural’
The long-running CW series is chockablock with things that go bump in the night, all seen through the eyes of two brave brothers who hunt down demons and their ilk. The series doesn’t get the attention of similar fright shows, but its longevity speaks for itself. Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET.

‘Bates Motel’
A prequel to “Psycho?” What a terrible idea. Then, the show cast Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga in the critical roles of Norman and his Mama. Suddenly, a sour concept became a dramatic showcase with a touch of horror. Now in its third season, “Bates Motel” helps anchor the A&E network’s original lineup. Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET.

‘The Strain’
Guillermo del Toro is a geek auteur for our comics-obsessed age, and his first horror series on FX returned for its second season July 12. The virus that brought vampirism to the culture continues, as does humanity’s battle to beat back The Master and his minions.

‘Hemlock Grove’
The third and final season of Netflix’s goosebump grabber is on the way. For now, viewers can check out the first two seasons of executive producer Eli Roth’s series. The show follows a fictional Pennsylvania town beset by murders, werewolves and more.